Sheffield leads the Russell Group
Over 335,000 final-year students from across the UK took part in the recent National Student Survey (NSS). The latest survey results position the University of Sheffield at the forefront of the Russell Group, receiving top marks for academic experience, mental wellbeing, resources, and support.
Sheffield was also placed within the top three across the Russell Group for learning opportunities, student voice, and mental health, and within the top five for learning resources, academic support, and organisation and management. In a newly introduced category, Sheffield is among the top five universities in the Russell Group, based on student feedback, for fostering an environment where students feel free to express their opinions and beliefs during their studies.
We are really pleased that our students have rated us so highly in this year’s National Student Survey. This is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the positive work of Sheffield Students' Union.
We really value feedback from our students as it provides important insights into how we can improve. We will use the survey responses to further develop the student experience we offer here at Sheffield.”
Professor Koen Lamberts
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield
Proud to be the University of the Year for Student Experience
The University of Sheffield has secured the prestigious title of 'University of the Year for Student Experience 2024' according to the latest rankings by the Daily Mail. The newly introduced rankings evaluate universities across 12 performance measures, such as outcomes from this year's National Student Survey, the proportion of graduates in highly-skilled jobs and the salaries they earn, research quality and research income, degree outcomes, student progression and the proportion of students who are the first in their family to go to university.
In the overall ranking, Sheffield achieved an impressive 11th place thanks to its leading performance on the NSS, its swift transition back to in-person teaching post-Covid, its unwavering commitment to social inclusion, and its substantial contributions to supporting South Yorkshire. Last but not least, it highlighted the University’s support to students who are the first in their families to attend university, further solidifying its commitment to inclusive education.
Students love Sheffield, and they are applying in record numbers. Many of them have such a great time that they settle in the city after graduation. The love they feel is reflected in this year’s National Student Survey (NSS) scores where the University is the most successful large University in our analysis of questions relating to the student experience.
The size of the University is important here. It is relatively easy to deliver a great student experience where student numbers are small, far harder for a larger institution where creating a sense of community identity is more of a challenge. Just ask many of Sheffield’s large Russell Group rivals, which occupy the lower reaches of the NSS rankings. Sheffield is the leading performer among this 24-strong group of highly selective universities."
Alastair McCall
Editor of the Daily Mail University Guide